WB Daydreaming

Sunday, April 22, 2007 by starone | Discussion: Skinning

Just thought I'd share this.  I've been sitting, analyzing, thinking, and wondering as I continue to look at the frame on Windowblinds and trying to figure a way out of the norm of rounded corners, square corners, or just unusually designed frames.  I envisioned a lot of masking, taking into account the new transparency features, and well, have to admit that I am generally trying to do the abnormal, i.e. unusual shapes for a blind.  Also, got excited last night as a vision of one came to mind, was going to go into Photoshop to execute the vision, then got sidetracked on the net and started to look at the frame on my blind while a url was coming up and began to put put my vision in its place only to come to the final let down, not truely feasible.  But then, you know what they say about visions......and....well......with Stardock creativity, humm, maybe, well.....you never know, someday a vision may be reality.

9 Reply 16 Referrals
seldomseen
Reply #1 Sunday, April 22, 2007 7:01 PM
Maybe so-called "Celtic Knotwork" as a frame instead of rounded, etc?

Maybe mortise-and-tenon? Dovetail? Pegged? Cross-stiched? Basketweave? Branches intertwined?

Or am I off-base here, not understanding the thread? Admittedly, much of the time, neither brain cell finds the other between my ears.

Had a book once, black and white photos, "The Art of Japanese Joinery". Had some astounding ways of joining two or more pieces of wood.

Also, there were some blinds 'back in the day', can't remember by whom, maybe it'll come to me, that were composed of intertwined branches and flowers, no buttons showing 'til you moused over them, then they dispensed a fine dusting of...'pixie-dust'? One was a dungeon or castle kind of theme, a 'keep'-kind-of-door on the start menu, with flaming torches, that had mouseover things going on... I can almost remember the author...dang.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
[Brain storm ... ! Author's name was LeCrayon or really close to that. Maybe had some great animated bug cursors, too!]

vStyler
Reply #2 Sunday, April 22, 2007 7:16 PM
  There's tons you can do with a frame, the trick is to pull it off without it looking tiled or stretched and maintain useabilty. You could theoretically do anything with a frame, it may look grand , but if no-one can use it, it won't be much use to anyone.

I'm with you though, I go into the future with many a vision of what is to come, what we will be capable of and how to make the very best use of it.   

starone
Reply #3 Sunday, April 22, 2007 8:50 PM

Enjoyed the feedback.  Who knows, maybe one day you will be able to do a skin for it like you would if you were going to design one for a WMP, not necessarily done the same way but as far as the skin itself.  Well maybe even having a skin, push a button on the skin and the main frame appears with all the writing, or, or, well, there I go dreaming again.  And, who knows, there may be a another visionary, that can make it possible.  OS's and programs have come a long.


elvee
Reply #4 Sunday, April 22, 2007 9:35 PM
[Brain storm ... ! Author's name was Le Crayon or really close to that. Maybe had some great animated bug cursors, too!]


Le Crayon's style is unique and I believe he had a vision and originality that was/is outside the skinning box. Back then he probably was thinking the same as Christine is today...How can I do this? Why does it have to be a square?..or rectangle? Why not a circle, A triangle, or a octagon?
I don't where he is today but he was one of a kind.

I wonder if it is possible to splice together WinFX and WindowBlinds? That might be a start for more possibilities

WOM
Reply #5 Sunday, April 22, 2007 9:52 PM
I remember Le Crayon, liked a lot of his work.  Hasn't been around in a few years.  

Adamness
Reply #6 Sunday, April 22, 2007 10:27 PM
Why does it have to be a square?..or rectangle? Why not a circle, A triangle, or a octagon?


That could be interesting from an artistic point of view, but I can say that I wouldn't want to use a circle or triangle window for anything, though we all use rectangles now, I assume. Maybe just rounding the corners more, or taking a piece of the corner off, but still keeping the general square/rectangle thing, otherwise it might take away some usability.

basj
Reply #7 Monday, April 23, 2007 2:34 AM
The logical and usable way for a frame on a rectangle 2D monitor screen is still rectangle frames unless we have an oval or odd shape monitor screen than maybe different shape frame will be interesting , I would love to see real halo graphic 3D monitors on my desktop one day...

Uvah
Reply #8 Monday, April 23, 2007 3:30 AM
Look at the start menu on Xoddx, the way it seems disassociated from itself. Panels can be made transparent until mouseover then become visible...I think. Abstract shapes with wavy frames perhaps or one that looks like a lake reflection or rippled. Too many to describe. Let imagination run wild and see where it takes you.

I.R. Brainiac
Reply #9 Monday, April 23, 2007 10:27 PM
Abstract shapes with wavy frames perhaps or one that looks like a lake reflection or rippled.


How weird...vStyler sent me a start menu just like that last night...very cool.

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